Musical-chime support.



'J. E. GOATTA.

MUSICAL 'GHIME SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

.1, 1 ()2,388 Patented July 7, 1914.

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fi dmels E. Coatta J. E. GOATTA. MUSICAL OHI ME SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

1,102,388, Patented July 7, 1914.

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I r attoneq THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. GOATTA, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

MUSICAL-CHIME SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. CoATTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical-Chime Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in musical instruments, and has particular application to an instrument which may be played by one or more persons.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to provide an instrument embodying in its construction, a suitable number of whirling or revolving wheels, mounted upon a framework of any preferred material and construction, said wheels being further provided with electric lights and adapted to be simultaneously revolved through the medium of suitable driving mechanism, whereby the whole instrument presents an attractive appearance.

A. further object of my invention is to provide the revolving wheels with suitable bells properly tuned, so that a musical composition may be played by the operator or operators while the wheels are in motion.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a suitable arrangement of driving mechanism, whereby the various revolving wheels may be rotated in different directions.

I also aim to provide an instrument which may be readily assembled and dismantled for packing and shipment, and one which will embody the desired features of simplicity and durability of construction, coupled with neatness and attractiveness in appearance, the instrument being particularly designed for playing before theatrical audiences.

WVith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a rear view of an instrument embodying my improvements, Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the revolving wheels, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the wheels, Fig. 4 is an edge view of one of the wheels and showing the mechanism for taking current from the metallic dish at the hub of the wheel, Fig. 5 is a view in eleva- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 1,1910.

Patented July 7, 1914.

Serial No. 574,761.

tion showing the manner of securing the hub to the axle, Fig. 6 is an edge view of an instrument embodying my invention, Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the sections of the frame, Fig. 8 is a detail view in front elevation of a portion of one of the wheels, and, Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the frame.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter A designates the frame of the machine as an entirety, which frame is preferably formed of any suitable material, such as brass, copper or other metal, and I also preferably form the members composing the frame, of tubes, for the purpose of lightness and convenience. While the frame may be of any design, in the present instance, I have shown it as comprising the vertically extending side rods 1-1 having their upper ends curved or coiled as at 2, while the lower ends of said rods are provided with diverging legs 3 carrying rollers or casters 4. If desired, suitable vertical braces as at 5, may be employed for the frame, said braces extending from a point adjacent to the upper end of the tubes or rods 1, to the rear legs 3. Connecting the vertical rods or tubes 1, are a suitable niunber of cross tubes or rods 6, each cross tube or rod being preferably formed of a series of sections 7 detachably connected together through the pin and slot connection 8. I might also mention, that the vertical standards or rods 1 are preferably formed in sections and connected through the screw and slot connection 9, as shown 1T1 detail in Fig. 9, the cross bars being connected to the Vertical standards by any suitable coupling such as T-couplings 10.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have shown three cross rods connected with the vertical standards. Preferably supported or hung from certain of these rods, is the vertical tubular hanger 11 carrying the hand wheel 12 through the medium of which the wheels are revolved or driven as hereinafter described. In order tofurther support the frame when assembled, I provide the diagonal braces 13 carried by the collars 1 1 on the lowermost cross bar of the frame, said braces being preferably pointed at their lower extremities as at 15, to enable the same to engage with the base or floor.

Carried by the frame above described, is a series of wheels, in the present instance, twelve in number, the wheels as shown in Fig. 1 being arranged so that five lie in the lower row, four in the center row and three in the upper row, although I wish it to be understood that any suitable number of wheels may be employed and that they ma be arranged in any desired manner. As a l the wheels are similar in construction and in the manner of mounting the same, a description of one will suffice for all. It will be seen that each wheel comprises an outer rim 16 made of any suitable material connected through the radiating tubular metallic spokes 17 with the hub 18, the latter being secured to the rotating shaft or axle 19 through the medium of a pin 20 resiliently held in operative position through the spring 21, the construction being such that the pin may be withdrawn to remove the wheel from the axle. Each axle is hung from one of the cross rods of the frame through the medium of a bearing 22. The bearing is split at its upper end as at 23 and provided with a threaded bolt 24, so the said bearing may be slipped upon the cross rod of the frame and then tightened thereon. Below the point where the bearing is hung upon the cross rod, such bearing is bored transversely as at 25 and is provided with cups or recesses 26 for the reception of ball bearings 27 against which bear the cones 28 of the axle. It will thus be seen that the wheels are mounted in anti-friction bearings so that they may turn easily and noiselessly. At the opposite end of the axle from that carrying the wheel, is mounted a grooved drive pulley 29 over which is adapted to pass a portion of the drive belt 30.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the hand wheel 12 is provided with a handle 12 and that leading from and over the wheel, is the endless drive belt or rope which drives a shaft on which one wheel is mounted, said shaft having a second pulley about which is twisted or wound an endless belt 30 which passes successively to the various Wheels of the apparatus, so that when the hand wheel is actuated, the wheels will be Whirled or revolved, the run of the belt or drive rope being such that adjacent wheels will turn in opposite directions.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be seen that each wheel is provided with two concentric rings 31 and 32, which are preferably formed of wood or other non-conducting material. Supported by the rings intermediate the spokes, are the tubular bells 33, preferably formed of brass or other suitable material and properly tuned, one end of the bell being secured to the ring 32 through the medium of a rubber collar 34-, while the opposite end rests in the bracket 35 carried by the ring 31, the bell being secured to the bracket by a pin 36. Surrounding the hub of each wheel is a plate 37 of any suitable conducting material such as copper, brass or other metal, this metallic ring being insulated from the wheel by means of a ring 38 of fiber or other non-conducting material. Mounted upon the cross bars of the frame, one adjacent to each wheel, are the collars 39 insulated from the rod as at 40, each collar carrying a sleeve 41 through which projects .the brush 42 resiliently held in operative position by a suitable spring 43, the end 44 of the brush being adapted to contact with the copper plate to take the current therefrom, as hereinafter described. Carried by certain of the spokes of the wheel, preferably near the outer end thereof, are the electric lamps or lights 45, which may be of any suitable type or character and having suitably colored globes, if desired. Leading from each lamp, is a conducting wire 46 extending through the tubular spoke upon which the lamp is carried, said wire 46 terminating at the metallic disk 37 at the hub. As the frame of the structure is formed of metallic tubes, the current may be supplied in any desired manner, sue for instance, by leading the wire from a source of electrical energy and attaching the same to a portion of the frame, while the second conducting wire extends through the tubes except at the points where the tubes are joined. At this point, as is shown at Fig. 7, the conductor within the tube is brought out a short distance of its length, the ends of this conductor which is indicated at 47 being connected through the coupling 48, so that the wire may be disconnected when the machine is dismantled. The conducting wires 47 are each fastened as at 49 to a collar 39 carrying the brush 42, so that the current flowing through the wires 47 passes through the brush to the metallic plate at the hub, thence down through the conductin wire 46 to the lamp. Thus it will be seen that the current passes from the source of energy to the wire 47 and through this wire to the plate or collar 39, -thence passing to the lamp by the wire 46. From the lamp, the current returns through the metallic frame to the source of energy.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improved musical chime, will be readily apparent.

After the tubular frame has been assembled, by connecting the cross bars and the standards and properly arranging the endless driving belt or rope indriving connection with the series of wheels, the proper electrical connections are made with a suitable and convenient source of electrical energy. The hand wheel 12 is then revolved. through the medium of the handle 12, an the driving belt acting upon the drive pulleys atthe rear of the wheel, revolves the same, the arrangement'of the drive belt, as

heretofore stated, being preferably such that adjacent wheels are revolved in opposite directions. As the lamps carried by the spokes revolve with the wheel in a circular direction, have the appearance of rings of fire, and when such lamps are of different colors, an exceedingly attractive effect is attained. The operator standing in front of the machine, strikes the selected chimes or bells with any suitable implement, such as a small mallet, to play the selected composition, and the music in conjunction with the revolving light, forms a very attractive feature.

' 'While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the claims.

l/Vhat I claim, is

1. A musical chime support comprising spaced standards formed in sections, transverse bars connecting said standards formed in sections, rotatable elements, means for rotating said elements, illuminating means for said elements, feed Wires extending through said standards and bars and connected to one terminal of said illuminating means, the said standards and bars being of conductive material and being electrically connected to the other terminal of said means, and means for bridging said wires over said jointed sections of the framework.

.2. A musical chime support comprising spaced standards formed in sections, transverse bars connecting said standards, rotatable elements, bracket supports for said elements, said supports being removably mounted and adjustable to accurately space said rotatable elements apart, and means for driving said elements.

3. A musical chime support comprising vertical spaced standards, transverse tubular bars connecting said standards and formed in sections, rotatable elements mounted on said sections, electrical illuminating elements carried by said rotatable element, conducting wires in said tubular sections for transmitting current to said illuminating elements, said wires being of a length substantially equal to the length of the tubular sections through which they pass, and coupling elements for uniting the adjacent ends of said wires.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. GOATTA.

Witnesses:

LLOYD I. GILLEN, L. OTIS BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

